As the clock ticks down to Donald Trump’s unprecedented criminal trial, the former president has launched a scathing attack on the presiding judge, escalating tensions and raising concerns about the trial’s integrity. With less than a day until the proceedings begin, Trump took to Truth Social to label Judge Juan Merchan as potentially “the most highly conflicted Judge in New York State history,” framing the upcoming legal battle as a “Fake Biden Trial.”
Trump’s first of four criminal trials is set to unfold in New York City, where he faces charges for allegedly falsifying business records related to a hush money payment intended to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels about their supposed affair. Trump, maintaining his innocence, has entered a not guilty plea and vociferously denied the affair. This trial marks a historic moment as Trump is the first U.S. president to face criminal charges in a courtroom.
The tension between Trump and Judge Merchan escalated following unsuccessful attempts by Trump’s legal team to have the judge recused, citing modest donations totaling $35 that Merchan made to Democratic campaigns in 2020, including $15 to Joe Biden. Further complicating matters, Judge Merchan has implemented a stringent gag order to prevent Trump from publicly discussing likely trial witnesses and extended it to prohibit discourse about the families of both the judge and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump is still permitted to critique the judge and the DA directly.
Judge Merchan emphasized the necessity of the gag order, stating, “It is no longer just a mere possibility or a reasonable likelihood that there exists a threat to the integrity of the judicial proceedings. The threat is very real.” The need for such measures was underscored by Trump’s recent posts attacking his former attorney Michael Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution. This act could potentially breach the initial gag order, although clarity on this violation is still pending from the New York State Unified Court System.
The strain of the approaching trial is palpable, with Cohen expressing his apprehension about being a focal point of Trump’s wrath, describing the onslaught as “relentless.” Trump’s strategy of targeting judicial figures and witnesses has been a recurring theme, leading to gag orders in additional cases across New York City and Washington, D.C. This tactic seems to correlate with a worrying increase in threats to federal judges and prosecutors, a trend that has more than doubled since the 2020 election.
As Trump prepares to face justice in multiple jurisdictions over the coming year, including trials related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents, his preemptive strikes against those involved in his legal battles signal a tumultuous path ahead, both for him and for the judicial system grappling with these high-stakes cases.
